After hearing recommendation after recommendation, I made my first stop at Island Burgers & Bites…read morein Carolina Beach. I even walked over a mile to get there... so if this burger was bad, I was going to have a very long, disappointing walk back. Thankfully, that wasn't a problem. I ordered the double cheeseburger Carolina-style with chili, slaw, mustard, and onions. A Carolina-style burger... in Carolina Beach. It just felt right. First of all, this thing was HUGE. The beef was incredibly well seasoned with those crisp, lacy edges. The chili had just enough sweetness, the mustard brought the perfect tang, and the onions added that fresh crunch. Then there's the toasted potato bun--still the undisputed champion of burger buns--and the perfectly melted cheese holding this glorious mess together. What makes this place even cooler is that it started in a gas station back in 2017. Now it's one of the most talked-about burger spots around. It's considered by many to be the third best burger in North Carolina and after one bite, I completely understand why. Sometimes the best food comes from the places you'd least expect. Despite being busy, the food came out surprisingly fast, and the staff kept things moving without missing a beat. Final score: 9.8/10. This officially takes the #1 spot on the Ev's Eats Best Burger List... for now. Every burger from here on out has a new standard to chase. #CarolinaBeach #IslandBurgersAndBites #NorthCarolinaEats #NCEats NCFood

We've been coming to island burgers for years as a family and it's truly our favorite place to come…read morewhile in the Carolina Beach area. We even stayed in Wilmington this time and made the drive! Years ago it was in a really small run down building and was such a gem of a find. Now they have a beautiful building with lots of parking too. It's truly such a great spot to eat- never disappoints!!

Up front I'm a hard grader. The only reason I'll give establishment five stars is due to a member…read moreof the service team went above their duties. This is a noon meal. First impression was inviting, very clean, noise volume was low to what I was expecting. The way the order was taken is uni unique, I like it no 48" iPad with buttons. Just a pad and pencil you get to fill out. The receptionist was very helpful in explaining the menu and how the order sheet works. It's so simple, that I made it hard. I got the grill chicken, fries, and sweet tea. Was great! Definitely better than any fast food microwave sandwich we've been forced to live with. During my meal, at least three times the cooks asked if they could top off my drink or anything else they could make my meal more enjoyable. No, it wasn't annoying or too much. Yes, highly recommend P.T. Ole Fashioned Grille. Swing by and give them a try. I'm sure you'll be back for the atmosphere and the food, too.

I will be dreaming about this veggie burger and fries for the rest of my life. Such a fun concept…read more Order at the counter on the card, take a seat and pay at the end. Service is quick and kind and food is greasy and delicious. Honestly the best hangover cure.

3 years later after my first review. Ordered the double ... wow it was sooo much bigger than my…read morefirst review. Not many times I have ever had more beef than bun. Awesome burger - ordering was easy at the digital kiosk system. The single might be enough in 2026 ... the double was awesome. The fries were good ... just not as fresh as the burgers. Not sure why.

Very very good burger spot! I got a double burger and patties were massive for being a smash…read moreburger. The flavor was great the caramelized onions with the Oklahoma sauce was a great pairing. The burger itself was juicy and had a good flavor. One of the better burgers I've had honestly and you have a ton of toppings to choose from. My one bite score came out to a whopping 8.2/10 which is the 4th highest rated burger on my scale ever. The sweet potato wedges were amazing the cinnamon is the way to go! I was kind of disappointed with the sizing I ordered a large to split between the two of us and it wasn't enough. The 12 oz shake was amazing the only thing with that was it took forever. I was done with my food by the time the shake was done. It did look like they only have one shake machine so that could be why it took so long but the fact the I was done with my food before even seeing the shake was a bit crazy. The price of it all was a bit steep in the 40 some dollar range, but it was great. Also kinda in a random place but the vibes were great in there and the food was good I would say it is definitely worth the drive.

This little out-of-the-way place gets my vote for the best seafood in Carolina Beach! Everything we…read morehad was fresh, flavorful, and delicious--and the best part was that it wasn't fried. They do have fried options on the menu, but we chose the fresh, lighter choices and were so glad we did. The homemade soups were fantastic. He tried both the lobster bisque and the New England clam chowder, and we also had the spinach salad with poppy seed dressing--absolutely delicious! Then we tried the daily special: a blackened shrimp wrap with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. You could tell the potatoes were homemade, and everything tasted fresh and made with care. I honestly can't say enough good things about this place. I wish we had discovered it years ago! Hands down, one of the best places I've eaten in Carolina Beach in many years. We will definitely be back as soon as possible!

Service was great, friendly and prompt. Food was incredible and came out fast and fresh. We had…read moresome raw oysters and lobster bisque. The catch of the day was blackened swordfish and it was fantastic. My wife had the crab cake sandwich and it was amazing. But the part that I loved the most was my son's fish sticks. I half expected Gorton's for a kid but they came out, fresh fried fish and it was delicious. I ended up eating the rest of what he couldn't finish. This wasn't my first visit but it's been years since I was here. Glad to see it's still going strong. It stays as my top recommendation for folks coming to Carolina Beach

The food came quickly and it was good, just like usual. I got a cajun filet biscuit combo w/…read moreunsweet tea and a cedar bo. The cedar bo came quicker then normal, still hot and tasty though. I got a good portion of fries and when I asked for extra seasoning they gave me some. The portion on the cajun fillet biscuit was a little small but that's just me. If I had one complaint it would be that the service while quick was not very friendly. I personally would like a friendly staff in the morning when I go to a breakfast place, especially since I am not a morning person. It is handy on the way into Wilmington so I will be back. Others should try...

WORST BOJANGLES. I should have listened to the reviews and I NEVER leave reviews. I ordered a…read moreBo-Sized meal. The girl gave me a real sized fries and a Bo-sized drink with NO ice. So I got warm sweet tea. My bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit came with NO bacon. I ordered my food and came to the window and no one came to the window for at least 8 minutes and I even had to look up if they were still even open. PLEASE LISTEN TO THE REVIEWS as someone who never writes reviews...

It's a great local business with done country cooking, great Barbecue, come slaw & hush puppiesread more

We ordered the mac & cheese bites as an app and it came with 5 small pieces for $7. I actually…read morethought it was a joke. Otherwise, the food was plain disappointing. The fried chicken was fried to a crisp and the green beans had no seasoning. The best thing we had was the hush puppies.

7.2.22 Stopped by…read morefor lunch on the way home in MD. Went through drive thru and after placing the order was asked to pull to the front side of the restaurant and someone would bring our food to us. Our food came out piping hot and crispy. The food was the best I've had at any of their location that I can remember in awhile. They would have gotten 5 stars, but they forgot my sweet & sour sauce so I had to run in to get it.

Caramel coffee that tasted like water no salt on fries had to go get apple pie didn't get the…read moreketchup we asked for overall bad food bad service bad experience

I recently got married and had family members in town from Alaska. My nieces were absolutely dying…read moreto get to try Chick-fil-a since they do not have that in Alaska, and this is my favorite location, so we all came here for lunch. The group had a mix of items including the cobb salad (my favorite), nuggets, fries, and a chicken sandwich. Everyone loved their meals! It was such a treat for the Alaska family- the nieces have requested that we come back every time they're visiting.

I love the Chick-fil-A! I come here often instead of my friends and coworkers. We order it for…read moremobile through pick up, dine in, regular drive-through, and also delivery either through the facility themselves or through DoorDash. We can't get enough. I'm so happy this location is finally opened up again after they went through the remodeling. The interior looks great. The service here is also top notch. If you are not on the app and have it associated with this location, then you are missing out and definitely want to be signed up! They often host, fun event events, including a doggy night drive-thru with treats and toys for dogs! They also host event events for families and children. One of my favorite parts about this Monkey Junction location is receiving emails from the owner and also finding free treat surprises in the app. Last week I got a free chicken mini breakfast. It's always something! Definitely come to this location, Wilmington!

Got my order wrong to start but quickly corrected. Had the brisket and ribs. Brisket was really…read moregood. Some clean nice slices but there was a thicker less lean piece. Ribs were ok. White slaw was tasty and the hush puppies with cinnamon butter were great. The sweet sauce was my favorite Careful where you seat since condensation drips from ceiling

The Smoke House at Monkey Junction, 5120 College Road in Wilmington, is a must-visit for BBQ…read morelovers. As someone picky about brisket and pulled pork, I was thrilled with their December special: a half-pound of pulled pork with two sides for just $7.40. The pork was perfectly prepared, tender, and flavorful, complemented by their in-house sides and Sweet Southern sauce. Counter service was friendly and efficient, and the dining area was clean and spacious. It's a bit tucked away--look between McDonald's and Chick-fil-A, then left into the smaller strip. I'll definitely be back when visiting Wilmington again. Highly recommend!

Five Stars I stopped…read moreby Seaside Bagels after missing McDonald's breakfast, and I'm glad I did. This place reminded me why local businesses are often the better choice. The everything bagel with sausage and egg was outstanding. One thing that immediately stood out was that the seasoning actually covers the entire bagel--not just the top like you find at so many places. Looking around, it appears they do the same with their sesame, poppy, and other specialty bagels. It's a small detail, but it makes a big difference in every bite. The restaurant was clean, bright, and welcoming. Their chalkboard menu is easy to read, there's an impressive variety of bagels, breakfast sandwiches, cream cheese flavors, and even a full vegan menu. You can tell they take pride in what they offer. What impressed me even more than the food was the staff. Everyone I encountered was genuinely friendly and welcoming. They noticed I was a military veteran and applied the veteran discount without me having to ask, which was a thoughtful gesture that I sincerely appreciated. Whether you're grabbing breakfast on the way to work or just looking for a great bagel, Seaside Bagels is well worth the stop. Excellent food, excellent service, and a staff that makes you feel appreciated. I'll definitely be back.

This bagel shop has lots of unique bagel and cream cheese options, so I had to try a fun one! I…read morewent with the spinach pepper jack bagel, which has a nice crispy layer of the cheese on the outside and a fluffy inside. I also got the sundried tomato cream cheese which had great flavor and big pieces of tomato. The ambiance is very cute inside and has some seating, as well as a drive thru option. The service was very fast and the prices are great!